Aardvarks live in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is suitable habitat for them to live, such as savannas, grasslands, woodlands andbushland, and available food (i.e., ants and termites).
The aardvark is nocturnal and is a solitary creature that feeds almost exclusively on ants and termites (formicivore);the only fruit eaten by aardvarks is the aardvark cucumber.
It can close its nostrils to keep dust and insects from invading its snout, and its thick skin protects it from bites. It uses a similar technique to raid underground ant nests.
On closer inspection, the aardvark appears to include other animal features as well. It boasts rabbitlike ears and a kangaroo tail—yet the aardvark is related to none of these animals.
Aardvarks are nocturnal. They spend the hot African afternoon holed up in cool underground burrows dug with their powerful feet and claws that resemble small spades. After sunset, aardvarks put those claws to good use in acquiring their favorite food—termites.
Female aardvarks typically give birth to one newborn each year. The young remain with their mother for about six months before moving out and digging their own burrows, which can be extensive dwellings with many different openings.
Fast Facts
- Type:
- Mammal
- Diet:
- Omnivore
- Average life span in captivity:
- 23 years
- Size:
- Head and body, 43 to 53 in (109 to 135 cm); Tail, 21 to 26 in (53 to 66 cm)
- Weight:
- 110 to 180 lbs (50 to 82 kg)
- Did you know?
- An aardvark's tongue can be up to 12 in (30.5 cm) long and is sticky to help extract termites from the earthen mounds.
- Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
- Source:www.nationalgeographic.com
- www.wikipedia.com
